The well-known Ukrainian ex-footballer and expert Viktor Leonenko answered questions about the Saudi Arabian championship, explained why European stars are starting to complain there, and also touched upon the topic of domestic football.
Viktor Leonenko- Viktor Yevhenovych, what's going on? LaPorte complained in the press that he was not taken care of well in Saudi Arabia, even though he receives 25 million euros a year. Benzema is also constantly whinging about his outrageous salary of 200 million a year. What is the meaning of this?
- They must have turned into girls. They are just greedy or greedy! That's why Benzema got deflated and lowered his standards, that's all. He can't do anything and he starts shitting on everyone - everyone is to blame. This is not Real Madrid, where he sat quietly, but in Saudi Arabia you can do anything. He and LaPorte have already had enough of money and they are in a slump.
Some players refuse to go to Saudi Arabia at all, and I think they are right to do so. There is a completely different culture and a very hot climate, which not everyone can withstand. Besides, there is the Champions League in Europe.
- So how do you take care of them, according to LaPorte? "Can't they afford maids with their salaries?
- They become girls, just like our players. Look at how coaches in the UPL communicate with players: be careful there, don't get a yellow, don't get caught in a hard tackle, be more attentive, etc. We have only two coaches who can "shove it" to the players. They are Hryhorchuk and Vernydub.
The rest of them are afraid to shout, because the players can get into themselves. The players are simply turned into girls. They are constantly complaining about injuries, showing photos of their surgeries so that people will feel sorry for them.
- Benzema and Laporte complain, but Ronaldo has never said a bad word about Saudi Arabia, he is happy with everything.
- Because Ronaldo is a ploughman and a narcissist, and he never makes discounts for himself! He always ploughs, ploughs and ploughs because he has to prove that he is the best. He doesn't have time to whine. Moreover, he is not a stupid guy and understands that if he gets so much, he must be the best. Ronaldo is not bothered by sands and camels, unlike Benzema, Cristiano is a professional.
And Benzema has just relaxed. Have you heard him make a sound at Real Madrid? At the Madrid club, he was quieter than water, lower than grass, especially when Ronaldo was there.
Although, I should note that the level of football in the world has dropped dramatically, so people aged 38-39 are still playing at a high level. Let's take Italy. There is not even one person there today who can be called on the level of Baggio, Baresi, Maldini and Del Piero. What's going on with Bayern Munich?
- Ronaldo said in an interview that the Saudi Arabian league is stronger than Ligue 1 and is in the top 5 leagues in the world. Do you agree with this opinion?
- Of course, I agree. I don't remember when French clubs won anything in European competitions. People hope for PSG every season, but in the end, it's a bust. Even Mbappe can't help them.
If we look at the standings, the UPL is more interesting than the French championship, though the level is not good.
- Well, where would you rank the Saudi Arabian league in terms of strength in the world?
- England is number 1, I'll give second place to Spain, and Saudi Arabia is third. It's a great championship. Serie A has dropped a lot and there are no stars there. In addition, there are constant betting scandals in Italy. I think the Dutch league is no worse than Serie A now, they supply players regularly.
And Messi is not yet in Saudi Arabia. I think he would get more money than Ronaldo. Now there is a debate about who is better: Messi or Holland? You have to set your priorities right here. Holland has won everything with Manchester City at club level, but ask him: would he trade all those trophies for a World Cup title?
I think he would. The Champions League is played every year, and the World Cup is played every four years. That's why I prefer Messi, even though I don't think he's the best footballer today.
- Then name the top 3 best footballers in the world, in your opinion?
- I will only name those who play in Europe, because the level here is higher than in MLS and Saudi Arabia.
- Holland.
- Mbappe.
- Bellingham.
Kane is already of age and Bayern are in a fever, so I won't name him.
- Let's get back to our topic. Why do you think there are no Ukrainian players in the Saudi Arabian league?
- What would Ukrainians have to do there? Firstly, they are unlikely to go there, and secondly, they are unlikely to be invited. We don't have any stars, and only well-promoted players are invited to Saudi Arabia!
Let's take Dovbyk. You read that he is invited by 500 clubs, and then you look - he is in the reserve team of Girona. They write that Mykolenko bled to death during the Everton match, but Bezsonov played all season wrapped up in bandages and did not whimper!
- Well, wait, Dovbyk with 11 goals is fourth in the La Liga scoring table, behind Bellingham by just two goals.
- For me, this is not an indicator. Remember Selezniov, when he became the top scorer in the UPL as a Shakhtar reserve.
- There is a big difference between the UPL and La Liga, as well as between the status of Shakhtar and Girona in their respective leagues.
- If you are a striker, you should always be in the line-up, not in the reserves. Dovbyk is a good scorer, but I'm talking about what they write. There is a lot of writing about Lunin now, even Zinchenko has been forgotten. But if we take it in essence, Lunin did not even take his chance at Real Madrid while Courtois was injured. Ancelotti plays him or Kepa.
And if comrade Thibaut recovers, then Lunin will be second for life. And this applies not only to Andriy, but also to any other goalkeeper, because Courtois is number one in the world.
- Could Lunin play in Saudi Arabia?
- Of course, he could. Lunin is a good goalkeeper, but his problem is that he is at Real Madrid. So he is happy to be a backup. I would advise him to go to any club where he will play.
- How long do you think the Saudi Arabian league will last at a high level and is it likely to repeat the Chinese league, where incredible funds were also poured in, but then the clubs went bankrupt?
- This will not happen. Saudi Arabia is not running out of oil yet. They do not spare money and the level of the local championship is quite serious. The sheikhs are constantly promoting and popularising football. The finals of the European Cups are held there, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Stanley Cup hockey final is played there soon.
- At the peak of your career, would you have agreed to move to the Saudi Arabian league?
- Probably not.
- Why not?
- Because I don't like money as much as many other players.
- So you wouldn't have exchanged Dynamo for the sheikhs' money?
- If they had a normal attitude, I wouldn't trade Dynamo for anything.
- And what about your situation when Lobanovskyi did not see you in the squad?
- When Lobanovskyi came, I had to run away from Dynamo because he said that I would play only if I scored two goals in every match. I'm not Lunin to sit on the bench. As a result, I was transferred to Dynamo-2.
Andrii Piskun
